Virginia Chen has been painting and exhibiting her work in Gainesville area since 1980. Although she studied science in college, earning a Bachelor Degree of Science from Iowa State University, her real love was art. Virginia pursues her love of art by taking lessons from well known artists, studying art books and also participating in painting workshops led by nationally well known artists.

Watercolor is Virginia's first choice of expression. She finds the media provides the unique qualities of transparency, clarity, freshness, and pure spontaneity. Her choice of subjects includes florals, landscapes, buildings, boats, wildlife, etc. Her use of light and color transposes the viewer to a simple place & time and also inspires feelings of joy, peace and harmony. Most of her work grows out of a sense of beauty and desire to impart visual pleasure to the viewer.

Over the past 18 years, Virginia won many awards at local and regional art festivals including the best Cedar Key Scene 1991, and her works can be found in numerous private and corporate collections.